“Purple Rain” – Every Track Ranked

“Purple Rain” is always in the running for best 80’s album for good reason – this is Prince at the peak of his powers, with some of the greatest songwriting and production of the era.

I’ll be ranking all nine album tracks from worst to best (thanks to the commenter that suggested it!). Let’s get to it!

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OK

9 – Computer Blue

I can appreciate the experimental production and bold songwriting choices on “Computer Blue”, but it doesn’t work for me.

8 – Baby I’m a Star

The final stretch of songs on “Purple Rain” is pretty legendary … apart from “Baby I’m a Star”.

By this point of the album I’ve heard enough of Prince screaming and the 80’s drums and synths, so I tend to skip ahead to the show-stopping final number.

Good

7 – Take Me with U

I really like the horn flourishes in “Take Me with U”, so if the chorus was catchier this would’ve ranked higher.

6 – Darling Nikki

“Darling Nikki” has some great guitar riffs and a slick backbone, and that acapella outro is pretty cool too.

5 – The Beautiful Ones

For how fast-paced and furious the album is, it was nice to have a slower, more meaningful song in the mix.

The production creates a gorgeous soundscape, and Prince’s vocals are on particular form.

Great

4 – I Would Die 4 U

One of the more vibrant songs on the album, which is saying something.

“I Would Die 4 U” is 80’s electro pop at its finest, with joyous synths and a bubbly vocal performance.

3 – Let’s Go Crazy

I always say that a great album needs a great opener, and “Let’s Go Crazy” has energy in spades.

It reminds me a bit of “1999” with its vocal and synth stabs, and that final minute has the perfect amount of melodrama.

All-Time Great

2 – When Doves Cry

“Purple Rain” has two unequivocal classics on its tracklist, so the problem was always going to be deciding a favourite between the two. In the end, I gave the silver medal to “When Doves Cry”.

Its lyrics are still as poignant as ever, the synth riffs get stuck in your brain, and the chorus is one of Prince’s very best.

1 – Purple Rain

“Purple Rain” has one of the best title tracks in music history, and one of the greatest album closers too.

It’s an eight-minute epic that goes through all the emotions and then some, with vocals and guitar work that 99% of artists could only dream of. Take a bow, Prince.

Aaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: